Load application element

ABSTRACT

A load application element comprising a base plate, a connecting member and a tie member is provided. The base plate is stackable and connected with a connecting member. The connecting member is arranged in vertical direction to the base plate and is suitable for the attachment of a tie member. The tie member is attached to the connecting member, preferably through a screw connection or a plug connection. In another preferred embodiment of the invention the base plate, the connecting member and the tie member are made from one piece. On the base plate load transmission ribs are provided to distribute the initiated pulling force homogenously.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The invention relates to a load application element, which is able to apply load to a damaged metal sheet in a repair procedure.

2. Related Art

The need to remove dents out of metal sheets from body panels of vehicles is common. The term dent covers concave deformations of different sizes in sheet metal plates, e.g. because of car accidents or damage by hail. Numerous devices to remove these kind of dents have been proposed over the years. Depending on the size and the depth of the dent the amount of pulling force, necessary to pull out the dent precisely differs. Most of the devices consist of two main parts, a first member being removably connected to the metal sheet, and a second member connected with the first member generating a pulling force.

An example of such a tool is shown in the German utility model DE 20114579. In this document, an adhesive adapter is described together with an adjustment device. The adhesive adapter has a convex base plate fixed on the adjustment device. Before applying the pulling force, the adjustment device is necessary to bring the adhesive adapter in the correct position. The load implementation is not distributed optimal, through the described adhesive adapter.

Only in the correct position, the distribution of the pulling force is effective enough to remove the dent precisely.

WO 02 24367 also discloses a dent removal tool with an adapter attachable to a dent and a puller tool attached to the adapter. Several disadvantages exist with this kind of devices. The resulting pulling force, initiated by the proposed adapters acts only in the middle of the dent. The force acts punctually in the vertical direction. Its magnitude depends on the effective area between the adapter and the metal sheet as well as on the correct position of the adapter on the dent. Due to these requirements, the size of the dents removable by the proposed devices of DE 20114579 and WO 02 24367 is rather limited.

The same disadvantage occurs with the device proposed in WO 0134316. The disclosed invention comprises an adhering anchor and a device for deforming areas of a vehicle body. The pulling force is also restricted to the small area between the anchor and the metal sheet. The adapters proposed in DE 20114579, WO 0224367 and WO 0134316 can only be applied for small dents with a limited depth. Moreover, the disclosed devices cannot be used for different dent sizes. The contact area between the adapter, the metal sheet and the resulting pulling force is too small in order to pull out the dent precisely.

A further solution for pulling out a dent is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,942. The proposed weld washer comprises a plate member with an opening and a tab-like arm member fixed on said plate member. The tab-like arm member is connected with the dent, e.g. by spot welding. One disadvantage which occurs is that the initiated pulling force is acting only in one point, where the weld washer is connected with the damaged metal sheet. The second disadvantage is, that it is not possible to remove the weld washer without damaging the metal surface. After pulling out the dent, a second working step, such as grinding the metal sheet, is necessary.

SUMMARY

An object of the present application is to provide an improved load application element, which optimizes the distribution of a pulling force, initiated for example by a pulling rod. Another object according to the invention is to provide a load application element, which is flexibly adaptable to different dent sizes and various of dent geometries.

These and other objects are achieved by an adhesive adapter according to the independent claim. Further embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

For pulling out a dent from a metal sheet, basically two elements are necessary. One element for initiating a pulling force and a second element which is able to transmit the power to the contact area between the second element and the dent. To a great extend, the effectiveness of the load transmission depends on the size and the design of the interface between the metal sheet and the load application element according to the invention. Generally, a larger interface leads to a better load transmission result. Apart from that large surface area, a homogenous distribution of the introduced pulling force leads to an better result. In order to remove the dent precisely, the introduced pulling force should be distributed as smooth as possible over the whole surface of the dent.

A load application element according to the present application includes a base plate, a connecting member and a tie member attached to said connecting member. Compared to the state of the art, the load application element according to the invention is laterally stackable, which means that at least two load application elements can be substantially arranged seamlessly to one another. When at least two load application elements are arranged, the lateral edges of their base plates contact one another substantially over the whole length. This arrangement has the advantage that the initiated traction force is distributed smoothly into the dent. Load transmission ribs, which are positioned on the load application element, support the effective distribution into the dent. The load transmission ribs are located on the base plate of the load transmission element, on the side opposite to the side which is connected to the metal sheet. Beneficial, in comparison with the state of the art it is, that the load transmission ribs strengthen the base plate, preferably in the middle range, where the connecting member is connected with said base plate. When a pulling force is introduced, e.g. via a pulling rod, the load transmission ribs distribute the force flow regularly over the base plate into the dent.

Due to the application of load application elements, the formation of a local maximum of the introduced pulling force is avoided. The effect of transmitting the introduced pulling force effectively into the dent is optimized by using at least two load application elements. The elements according to the invention in general have a stackable geometry. The surface area of the base plate is normally larger than the cross sectional area of the connecting member. It is therefore possible, to arranged at least two load application elements substantially seamlessly to one another. The load application element according to the invention is applicable to different dent geometries, whereas the devices provided in the state of the art are limited to a certain dent size, e.g. damages by hail.

The load application element includes a base plate, which is preferably stackable and which is connected with a connecting member. The connecting member is arranged in vertical direction to the base plate. The connecting member is suitable for holding a tie member. In an first embodiment said elements have a base plate representing a polygon, preferably a square, a triangle or a rhomboid. They are substantially arranged seamlessly to one another. In addition the base plate may have load transmission ribs. The connecting member may comprise a neck and a head, wherein the head is provided with an internal or external thread for the attachment of the tie member. In a second embodiment of the invention the connection of the connecting member with the tie member is a plug connection. In a third embodiment the connecting member and the tie member are manufactured in one piece by injection molding.

The tie member is adapted for the attachment of a pull rod, e.g. having an adequate opening. In another preferred embodiment the tie member is for example a knob, a head, an anchor or a screw. The base plate and the connecting member are of a plastic material and the tie member is preferably of metal or a metal alloy.

The base plate can also have a round form, instead of a polygon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the appending drawings. These references should not be construed as limiting of the present invention, but are intended to be exemplary only.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a first possible embodiment of a load application element according to the present invention, wherein the connection between the tie member and the connecting member is a screw connection.

FIG. 2 shows schematically, in an exploded view, the load application element of FIG. 1, where the tie member is a screw.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a second possible embodiment of a load application element, wherein the connection between the tie member and the connecting member is a plug connection.

FIG. 4 shows schematically the load application element of FIG. 1 or 3 in a third embodiment, wherein the connection member and the tie member are manufactured in one piece.

FIG. 5 shows a number of aligned load application elements, wherein a pulling rod penetrates the opening of the tie members, arranged along the dent.

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of FIG. 5 in a perspective view.

FIG. 7 shows a number of aligned load application elements in the embodiment of FIG. 1, where the tie members are penetrated with a pull rod.

FIG. 8 shows schematically the distribution of the applied force through the load application element and its distribution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of a load application element 100 according to the present invention, with a base plate 103, a connecting member 102 and a tie member 101 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The base plate 103 has a rectangular shape and the thickness of the base plate varies over its cross section. In the middle part of the load application element 100, 200, load transmission ribs 105, 405 are provided. In this area the thickness of the base plate 103, 403 is preferably threefold to fivefold stronger than in the adjoining areas 108 of the base plate. Principally the base plate has a middle part constructed rigidly. The load transmission ribs 105, 405 are surrounded by a more flexible adjoining area. The base plate 103, 301 and 403 can also have other form of a polygon e.g., a triangle, a square or a rhomboid.

A connecting member 102, 302, 402 is connected integrally with the base plate. It is arranged perpendicular to said base plate 103, 301, 403. In the first embodiment of FIG. 1 the connecting member 102, 302, 402 is located in the middle of a rectangular base plate 103. Basically the connecting member is constructed as a cylinder, with a neck 107 and a head 106. The neck 107 represents the lower part of the cylinder, which is connected integrally with the base plate 103, 301, 403. The head 106 has in the first embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 a larger diameter than the neck 107. In the head 106 an internal thread 104 for connecting the connecting member 102 with a tie member 101, 208 is provided. In one embodiment of the invention the internal thread 104 is an internal screw tread made of metal. As an alternative, the internal tread can also integrated into the head 106 of the connecting member 102.

In a first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 the base plate 103, the load transmission ribs 105, and the connecting member 102 are manufactured in one piece, e.g. by injection molding of a plastic material. Preferably they are made of a polymer material.

The connecting member 102, 302, 402 attaches a tie member 101, 303, 401 or a screw 208, or alternatively a knob, a head or an anchor. In a first embodiment of FIG. 1 the tie member consists of a screw thread 109 and a plate member 110. The plate member 110 is adapted for the attachment of a pull rod 1001, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The plate member 10 is shown exemplarily as an eye. This ring can be replaced by any other member, e.g. a T-shaped anchor, which connects the tie member 101, 303, 401 and the pull rod 1001. Another alternative is to use a screw 208 instead of a tie member, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the first embodiment of FIG. 1 the tie member 101 and connecting member 102 and the base plate 103 are two separate elements connected with a bolded connection. Preferred alternatives for the connection of the tie member with the connecting member are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

In FIG. 3 the second embodiment according to the invention, the connection between the connecting member 302 and the tie member 303 is shown in an exploded view. The base plate 301 has the form of a flat rectangle. As an alternative, the base plate can have the form of any another polygon, e.g. a triangle. Substantially in the middle of the base plate 301, a connecting member 302 is provided. The base plate 301 and the connecting member 302 are preferably manufactured from one piece. The tie member 303 comprises a plate member 305 and a plug 304. The plug 304 is connected with the connecting member 302. A positive-locking as well as a non-positive locking is provided.

Another embodiment according to the invention is shown in FIG. 4. Basically FIG. 4 illustrates the load application element of FIG. 1, wherein the base plate 403, the load transmission ribs 405, the connecting member 402 and the tie member 401 are manufactured in one piece and one material, e.g. a polymer material or a metal.

In FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 stabled load application elements are shown. In the fourth embodiment of FIG. 5 the load application elements are stacked in a row. When at least two load application elements are laterally stacked, the load transmission ribs here are only separated by the small gap. The single load application elements are attached to each other, so that the edges of their base plates touch themselves substantially seamlessly. The load application elements according to the invention are arranged in such a way that all apertures of the plate members 110 are aligned in the same direction. For applying a pulling force, a pull rod 1001 passes through said aligned apertures. Other arrangements are possible, for example by using hooks instead of a pulling rod.

The load application elements 100 are connected with the surface of the dent 1003 for example with an adhesive.

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically the force flow initiated by a pulling force, as an example according to the arrangement of FIG. 4. The load transmission ribs 405 are protrusion arranged substantially in the middle part of the base plate 403. The geometric form of the load transmission ribs may vary as well as its arrangement on the base plate.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

List of Reference Numerals

-   100,200, 300, 400 load application element -   101, 303, 401 tie member -   102, 302, 402 connecting member -   103,301, 403 base plate -   104 internal thread -   105,405 load transmission ribs -   106 head -   107 neck -   108 adjoining area -   109 screw thread -   110, 305 plate member -   208 screw -   304 plug -   1000 aligned load application elements -   1001 pull rod -   1002 metal sheet -   1003 dent 

1. A load application element comprising a base plate, wherein the base plate is laterally stackable, connected with a connecting member, arranged in vertical direction to the base plate, said connecting member is adapted for the attachment of a tie member.
 2. The load application element of claim 1, wherein said base plate represents a square, a triangle a rhomboid or has a round or oval shape.
 3. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the base plate can have load transmission ribs located on said base plate.
 4. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a neck and a head.
 5. The load application element of claim 5, wherein the head is provided with an internal thread for the attachment of the tie member.
 6. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the tie member is plugged on the connecting member.
 7. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the connecting member and the tie member are manufactured in one piece.
 8. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the tie member is adapted for the attachment of a pull rod.
 9. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the tie member is a knob, a head, an anchor or a screw.
 10. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the base plate and the connecting member are made of a plastic material.
 11. The load application element of claim 1, wherein the tie member is made of metal or a metal alloy. 